Press and pedal power helps cousins raise charity cash!

Power of the Press: Teenagers Ben Cumming and Charlie Ross double their total for Choices Dunfermline after epic Black Isle cycle

TWO West Fife secondary school pupils who got on their bikes for a fundraising cycle have almost doubled their money– thanks to the Press!

Last month, kind-hearted Dunfermline Cycling Club members Ben Cumming and Charlie Ross decided to combine their pedal passion with helping the Choices Dunfermline charity by trekking a whopping 173 miles to the Black Isle.

The S5 duo originally raised £350 for the organisation, which provides confidential counselling support for women and men who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth or termination, as well as to those facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Ben’s mum, Sarah, who is Choices Dunfermline’s centre manager, got in touch with the Press about their venture and, after we featured the teen cousins’ efforts on our website, more donations flooded in and brought their total up to £600.

“Ages ago, Charlie and I started talking about doing a long cycle,” Ben, 15, explained.

“Our first idea was to do a sponsored cycle for a big charity but, as we thought about it more, we had the idea of doing it for a smaller organisation instead.

“My mum has helped at Choices for years so that was a small, local charity we already knew about, and we knew it didn’t receive a lot of publicity because what they deal with can be quite sensitive.

“We had the idea of doing a sponsored cycle in the summer holidays but didn’t get round to it. Then, in the October holidays, Charlie’s family and my family were both going to the Black Isle on the same day and so he and I decided to cycle there.

“At first we thought we were probably too late to make it a sponsored event but then we realised it was quite easy to set up a fundraising page, so it made to sense to at least try and raise some money through our cycle.

“We’re glad we did.”

Charlie, 16, said: “We’ve wanted to do a charity ride for Choices as Ben’s mum, my auntie Sarah, works for them.

“We decided on the Saturday that we would ride to Inverness and saw that this would be a great opportunity, so Sarah sorted it out for us.

“We’ve both been members of Dunfermline Cycling Club for about two years and they have been really helpful. Some members supplied us with kit for the ride and they also put in a huge donation, which was very kind of them.”

Their epic ride in the wind and rain began at 6am on Wednesday, October 11, and proud Sarah added: “I wanted to thank the Dunfermline Press for posting an article about Ben and Charlie’s cycle from Dunfermline to Inverness on the website.

“A few individuals and groups, including Dunfermline Cycling Club and Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss Fife, shared the article on Facebook.

“Thanks to that, and a very generous donation from Dunfermline Cycling Club, the boys have now raised £600 for Choices Dunfermline.

“To say they’re delighted is an understatement and the team at Choices are very grateful to Ben and Charlie, and to all those who’ve donated.

Ipsoregulated

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